Pingyin Rose-Red Apples

Pingyin Rose-Red Apples

Pingyin Rose-Red Apples is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Pingyin Rose-Red Apples is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Pingyin Rose-Red Apples originated in Pingyin County. Due to their superior quality, early fruiting, high yield, and strong economic benefits, they have been introduced and cultivated in eight provinces and one municipality, including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei, Liaoning, and Beijing. The Rose-Red Apple is a new bud mutation variety of the short-branch type from the Red Delicious series. It was officially named in 1979 at the seventh Shandong Provincial Apple Variety Evaluation Conference. Its deep red color and origin in the renowned "Land of Roses" led to its name, “Rose-Red” Apple. It won third prize from the Shandong Science Commission in 1983 and the Quality Fruit Award from the Shandong Forestry Department in 1987. The Rose-Red Apple is long-conical in shape, deep red, tall-stemmed, and prominently five-edged. With a fruit shape index of 0.988, the apples are large and uniform, averaging 320–350 grams per fruit, with the largest reaching up to 700 grams. Over 95% are first-grade fruits. The flesh is yellow-white, with a soluble solid content of 12.7%. This variety fruits early, has a strong aroma, high yield, and rich nutrition. The fruits store well, and the trees are highly resistant to disease and wind. Pre-harvest fruit drop is minimal, and the variety is known for its strong yield performance and premium quality, with economic returns comparable to the American Red Delicious. Pingyin County currently has nearly 30,000 acres of Rose-Red Apples, most of which have begun to flower and bear fruit. In 1994, the county produced 650 tons of Rose-Red Apples. The Rose-Red Apple has gained popularity in both domestic and international markets for its unique color, aroma, taste, and shape. It is now exported to more than ten provinces and cities, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Fujian, Harbin, and Shenyang, and is favored by foreign buyers, indicating a very promising future for its development.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of Pingyin Rose-Red Apples is within Pingyin County, Shandong Province. The geographical coordinates are between 116°12′–116°27′ east longitude and 36°01′–36°23′ north latitude, covering a total area of 827 square kilometers. The production area of Pingyin Rose-Red Apples spans 1,620 hectares, with an annual output of over 60,000 tons. It is mainly distributed across 46 administrative villages in the hilly and mountainous regions of four towns along National Highway 220 in Pingyin: Hongfanchi Town, Dong’e Town, Rose Town, and Pingyin Town.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Pingyin County is located at the junction of the low mountainous hills at the western foot of Mount Tai and the alluvial plain of northwestern Shandong. The terrain is complex with diverse landforms. The main peak of Dazhai Mountain reaches an elevation of 494.8 meters, descending in a step-like fashion toward the east and northwest. The protected area consists of the central and western low mountainous and hilly regions. From south to north, there are undulating hills and ravines with terraced fields. The soil is primarily cinnamon soil, with most areas having a soil layer thicker than 100 cm and some plots over 60 cm. Tests show organic matter content exceeding 1.2%, nitrogen at 0.12%, phosphorus at 0.3%, available phosphorus greater than 80 mg/kg, and available potassium greater than 120 mg/kg. The soil is loose, deep, and has strong water and nutrient retention capabilities, making it suitable for fruit tree growth.

　　(2) Hydrology: The protected area benefits from superior water conservancy conditions. The Langxi River and Yudai River, which run through Hongfanchi Town, Dong’e Town, and Rose Town, along with more than ten medium and small reservoirs and abundant groundwater resources, provide convenient irrigation.

　　Farmland drainage and irrigation facilities are fully equipped. The water is clear and unpolluted, ensuring the ability to irrigate during droughts and drain during floods, compensating for occasional years of low rainfall in Pingyin County.

　　(3) Climate: Pingyin County has a warm temperate continental semi-humid monsoon climate, characterized by mild weather, distinct seasons, cold and dry winters with little snow, dry and windy springs, hot and rainy summers, and cool, dry autumns with large diurnal temperature variations—all conducive to the color development and growth of apple crops.

　　Sunlight: The region enjoys abundant sunlight resources with long daylight hours and ample sunshine. The average annual sunshine duration is 2,069 hours, accounting for 54% of the total possible sunshine time, which is beneficial for apple photosynthesis.

　　Temperature: The annual accumulated temperature is 4,580°C, with an average temperature of 13.6°C. The hottest month, July, reaches 32.1°C, while the coldest, January, drops to -3.2°C. The frost-free period lasts about 204 days, and the natural farming period extends to approximately 290 days. Cool nights and large diurnal temperature differences aid in nutrient accumulation and color enhancement for fruit crops.

　　Water: Annual precipitation is relatively low, mostly concentrated in July and August, with significant yearly variation and unstable rainfall. The average annual rainfall is 658.4 mm, with an average of 70.1 rainy days.

　　(4) Humanistic History: Apple cultivation in Pingyin was rare before liberation. According to the *Pingyin County Annals*, in 1915, Ji Shi from Jining raised funds to establish the Daxing Agriculture and Forestry Company, developing forest farms and nurseries for economic fruit tree seedlings in Hongfan, Jiuxian, and Dong’e in Pingyin. After liberation, collective orchards were developed by brigades and advanced cooperatives. In 1954, Zhang Yunhan, a village official from Pangkou Village in Chenshantou Township, Pingyin, led the establishment of the county’s first collective apple orchard and was later elected as a Labor Model of East China. In 1958, the state-owned Pingyin Dazhai Mountain Forest Farm was built, covering 13,750 mu. In the 1970s, its record of yielding over 10,000 jin per mu of Red Delicious and Rose-Red Apples for ten consecutive years caused a sensation in the national fruit industry. The Dazhai Mountain Forest Farm was recognized as a provincial advanced forest farm. Its director, Wang Xinquan, attended the provincial science and technology awards conference as a representative of the fruit industry and was elected as a deputy to the Fifth Shandong Provincial People's Congress. The Pingyin Rose-Red Apple is the fourth-generation bud mutation of the short-branch type from the Red Delicious series. It was selected in 1972 from an orchard in Nandonggou Village, the former Chengguan Commune of Pingyin County, and officially named in 1979 at the seventh Shandong Provincial Apple Variety Evaluation Conference due to its deep red color and origin in the “Land of Roses.” Key characteristics of Pingyin Rose-Red Apples include: (1) compact tree size, easy high-density planting, early fruiting, and high yield; (2) few long branches, many short branches, abundant leafy shoots that easily form flower buds, and easy management; (3) long conical, tall-stemmed fruits with bright, fresh red color (over 85% coloring rate), distinct five-edged bottoms, milky white flesh that is crisp, juicy, sweet, and pure-flavored, with a fruit shape index of 0.988, hardness of 9.9 kg/cm³, and soluble solids content of 12.7%, offering a unique flavor and texture. The fruits are large and uniform, averaging 320–350 grams, with over 85% being marketable. The skin is moderately thick and resistant to storage and transport. The harvest season is 20–30 days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, making it one of the earliest-maturing, well-colored apple varieties in China, with color and quality comparable to American Red Delicious. Due to its superior quality, early fruiting, high yield, good returns, and easy management, it has been introduced and cultivated in eight provinces and one municipality, including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei, Liaoning, and Beijing. In the 1980s and 1990s, the county developed over 3,000 hectares of Rose-Red Apples, with an annual output of more than 120,000 tons. According to statistics from the Shandong Provincial Fruit Research Institute, the cultivation area of Rose-Red Apples exceeded one million mu nationwide, leading to years of high demand and expensive seedlings. With its unique advantages in color, early maturity, and delicious, crisp fruit, Pingyin Rose-Red Apples have gained popularity in domestic and international markets, being exported to provinces and cities such as Fujian, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and the northeast. In the 1980s, the purchase price was over one yuan per jin, with per-mu incomes exceeding 10,000 yuan—leading to the saying, “One mu of mountain apple orchard is worth ten mu of irrigated farmland.” Leading production areas such as Zhouhe and Dongchi Villages in Hongfanchi Town, Pingyin County, saw the emergence of fruit-growing households, streets, and villages earning tens of thousands of yuan, attracting visiting officials and farmers from more than ten surrounding provinces and cities to learn and purchase seedlings. With advancements in fruit bagging, flower and fruit thinning, and orchard management techniques, from 1996 to 2007, Pingyin Rose-Red Apples were continuously exported to more than ten countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, and Russia, with an annual export volume of over 2,000 tons and foreign exchange earnings of over 5 million USD. In 1983, Pingyin Rose-Red Apples won the “Third Prize from the Shandong Science Commission,” in 1987 the “Quality Fruit Award from the Shandong Forestry Department,” in 1994 the “Silver Award at the National Forestry Famous and High-Quality New Products Expo,” and in 1999 were featured on CCTV’s *China’s Famous Fruits*. In 2003, they were honored as “Best-Selling Products at the China Agricultural Products Trade Fair.” In 1993, Hongfanchi Town, Pingyin County—known for its Rose-Red Apple production—was named “Jinan’s No. 1 Fruit and Forest Town” by the Jinan Municipal

　　The fruit weighs several grams, with over 85% being marketable. The skin is moderately thick, making it suitable for storage and transportation. The harvest season is 20–30 days before the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is currently one of the rare apple varieties in China that colors well and matures early. Its color and quality can rival those of American Red Delicious apples. Due to its superior quality, early bearing, high yield, good returns, and ease of management, it has been introduced and cultivated in eight provinces and one municipality including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei, Liaoning, and Beijing. In the 1980s and 1990s, over 3,000 hectares of Rose Red apples were developed across the county, with an annual total output reaching more than 120,000 tons. According to statistics from the Shandong Provincial Fruit Research Institute, the cultivation area of Rose Red apples nationwide exceeded a million mu, leading to a situation where grafts were in short supply and seedlings were expensive for many years. Pingyin Rose Red apples have gained popularity in both domestic and international markets due to their unique characteristics such as excellent coloring, early maturity, fragrant taste, and crisp texture. They are exported to provinces and cities such as Fujian, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and the Northeast. In the 1980s, the purchase price was over one yuan per jin, with per-mu income exceeding ten thousand yuan, leading to the saying, “One mu of mountainous apple orchard is worth ten mu of irrigated farmland.” The emergence of fruit-growing households, streets, and villages earning ten thousand yuan in Zhouhe, Dongchi, and other villages—main production areas of Rose Red apples in Hongyanchi Town, Pingyin County—attracted cadres and masses from more than ten surrounding provinces and cities to visit, learn, and purchase grafts. With the advancement of apple bagging, flower and fruit thinning, and orchard management techniques, from 1996 to 2007, Pingyin Rose Red apples were continuously exported to more than ten countries and regions including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, and Russia for many years, with an annual export volume of over 2,000 tons and foreign exchange earnings of more than 5 million US dollars. In 1983, Pingyin Rose Red apples won the “Third Prize of the Shandong Provincial Science and Technology Commission,” in 1987 the “Quality Fruit Award of the Shandong Provincial Forestry Department,” in 1994 the “Silver Award at the National Forestry Famous and High-quality New Products Expo,” in 1999 were featured on CCTV’s program “China’s Famous Fruits,” and in 2003 received the title of “Best-Selling Product at the China Agricultural Products Trade Fair.” In 1993, Hongyanchi Town in Pingyin County, which focused on the production of Rose Red apples, was named “Jinan City’s No. 1 Fruit and Forestry Town” by the Jinan Municipal Government. Special funds were allocated for support by both city and provincial governments, and Japanese and German fruit experts such as Yan Qisanlang and Max Schaureckal, as well as provincial agricultural university experts like Shu Huairui, Xin Peigang, Wang Junyi, Cui Jianqian, and Bao Mingsheng, were invited multiple times to give lectures to fruit growers in Hongyanchi. In 2004, the Yuncai brand Rose Red apples were certified by the Ministry of Agriculture as a “Pollution-Free Apple Production Base and Pollution-Free Agricultural Products.” In 2006, the Hongyanchi apple base was rated as one of “Jinan City’s Top Ten Fruit and Forestry Production Bases.” In 2007, the Hongyanchi apple base was recognized by the China Fruit Marketing Association as a “China High-Quality Apple Production Base” and registered with the Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau as an “Export Apple Production Base.” From 2003 to 2008, Pingyin Rose Red apples were registered with trademarks such as “Yuncai,” “Hongyanchi,” “Meiguan,” and “Shengmushan” by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. The main production and management unit of Pingyin Rose Red apples, the Pingyin Meiguan Apple Professional Cooperative, was named one of “China’s Top Ten Farmer Economic Cooperatives” by the China Cooperative Economics Society under the Ministry of Agriculture in 2007, and in May 2008 was honored as a “Demonstration Farmer Professional Cooperative” by Jinan City.

　　From 1978 to the present, the Vice Chairman of the Central Committee & Vice Premier of the State Council [1], a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee & Vice Premier of the State Council [1], the Vice Premier of the State Council [1], the former Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee who is a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee & Vice Premier of the State Council [1], the former Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Central Committee [1], Qian Zhengying, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Li Chunting and Han Yuqun, former Governors of Shandong Province and Vice Chairpersons of the National People’s Congress, Shandong and Jinan leaders such as Liang Buting, Zhao Zhihao, [1], Xie Yutang, Sun Shuyi, and Jiang Daming, as well as Mao Zedong’s daughter Li Na, his personal secretary Zhang Yufeng, and Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Shu Huairui, among others, have visited Pingyin’s tens of thousands of mu of Rose Red apple orchards. After tasting the apples, they spoke highly of them and instructed local leaders to vigorously support and develop this industry that enriches the people and strengthens the county. Pingyin Rose Red apples have become a fruit of prosperity and increased income for the people of Pingyin and Shandong.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The origin for Pingyin Rose Red apples should be hilly terraces or plain plots that are drought-resistant with irrigation capability and waterlogged with drainage capacity, featuring fertile soil. The production environment should be in agricultural areas with good ecological conditions, far from pollution sources, and capable of sustainable production, meeting the requirements of NY/5013-2006 [Pollution-Free Food – Environmental Conditions for Forest and Fruit Product Origins]. The main origin of Pingyin Rose Red apples, Hongyanchi Town in Pingyin County, is a national eco-agricultural demonstration zone. Surrounded by mountains on all sides with nine springs converging, and the Langxi River flowing through the area, the unique water, soil, and climatic environment creates optimal growth conditions, resulting in good coloring, early maturity, high sugar content, high hardness, excellent quality, and high prices. The production environment passed environmental monitoring by the Jinan Environmental Protection Bureau’s environmental monitoring station in June 2004 and March 2008, meeting the requirements for pollution-free apple origin environments and achieving the growth conditions for pollution-free apples.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Rose Red apples are a new apple variety with independent intellectual property rights, carefully cultivated through over 30 years of practice, hard work, technological innovation by the people of Pingyin and forestry science and technology workers. Especially the second-generation Rose Red apples, whose color and quality can rival those of American Red Delicious apples. According to research, no better variety than the second-generation Rose Red apples of the McIntosh series has been cultivated domestically or internationally. For a considerable period in the future, the second-generation Rose Red apples have broad market development prospects. The cultivation, promotion, and protection of this variety will play a significant role in promoting the renewal of China’s McIntosh series apples, expanding foreign trade exports, and increasing farmers’ incomes.

　　(3) Production Process Management: The production process of Pingyin Rose Red apples includes orchard selection and planning,

　　selection and treatment of seedlings, planting of seedlings and orchard soil, fertilizer, and water management, tree shaping and pruning, flower and fruit management of fruit trees, pest and disease management of fruit trees, and fruit harvesting during several growth stages. Throughout the entire growth and production process of Pingyin Rose Red apples, strict compliance is maintained with NY/T5012-2002 [Pollution-Free Food – Apple Production Technical Regulations] and NY/T441-2001 [Apple Production Technical Regulations], as well as the management requirements for export fruit orchards registered with the Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. Pesticide and fertilizer use during production must comply with GB4285 [Pesticide Safe Use Standards] and NY/T496 [Fertilizer Rational Use Guidelines]. In accordance with the requirements of the project 96-3-7 (1)-1 [Development of Large-Area High-Quality and High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Rose Red Apples] evaluated by the Shandong Provincial Science and Technology Commission, techniques such as apple bagging, flower and fruit thinning, straw mulching for soil improvement, laying reflective film for color enhancement, spraying fruit shape agents and B9 amino acids to improve fruit shape index and hardness, spraying selenium-rich fertilizer to enhance quality, and bud mutation selection for breeding and updating superior varieties are promoted.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing Provisions: The harvesting and processing of Rose Red apples strictly follow the Ministry of Commerce’s ZBB31007-88 [Inspection Methods for Export Fresh Apples]. Based on the requirements of domestic and international clients, apples are purchased, sorted, graded, packaged, boxed, and exported. According to the requirements of clients and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center and the Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, pollution-free agricultural product labels and the People’s Republic of China Agricultural Product Geographic Indication are affixed to the products or packaging boxes, along with product traceability codes and barcodes.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: The production records of Pingyin Rose Red apples are established and improved in strict accordance with the [People’s Republic of China Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law] and the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center and the Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau: (A) Strict record management, organization, archiving, and preservation for two years to ensure traceability of agricultural product quality and safety and investigation of production process issues. (B) Standardized record content, detailing agricultural inputs, occurrence and control of fruit tree pests and diseases, and apple harvesting and processing. (C) Strengthen technical training for fruit grower members to improve their production skills and product quality awareness. (D) Accept supervision and inspection from higher-level agricultural, commodity inspection, and quality inspection departments.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Provisions

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The external quality characteristics of Pingyin Rose Red apples include: a regular fruit shape, tall conical form, high stance, obvious five-ridged base, concentrated red coloration with gloss, coloring rate over 80%, bagged fruits with bright red coloration and gloss, coloring rate over 90%, fruit shape index of 0.988, large and uniform fruit size, average single fruit weight of 320–350 grams, over 90% marketable fruit, moderately thick skin suitable for storage.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: The internal quality indicators of Pingyin Rose Red apples include: pesticide residues must meet the hygiene standards of NY/T5011-2006 for pollution-free apples and the physicochemical standards of GB/T10651. The flesh is milky white, crisp, sweet, and refreshing, with a pure fruit flavor, hardness of 9.9 KG/CM³, soluble solids content of 12.7%, and distinctive flavor and taste characteristics of the variety.

　　(2) Internal quality indicators: The internal quality indicators of Pingyin Rose Red Apples are as follows: pesticide residues must meet the hygiene standards for pollution-free apples NY/T5011-2006 and the physicochemical standards GB/T10651 set by the Ministry of Agriculture. The flesh is milky white, crisp, sweet, and refreshing, with a pure fruit flavor. The hardness is 9.9 KG/CM³, and the soluble solids content is 12.7%. It has the unique flavor and taste characteristic of this variety.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Pingyin Rose Red Apples entering or exiting the market must meet the hygiene standards of the Ministry of Agriculture [Pollution-Free Food - Pome Fruits] NY/T5011-2006 and the physicochemical standards of GB/T10651. They must be purchased and processed in accordance with the Ministry of Commerce's ZBB31007-88 [Inspection Methods for Exported Fresh Apples]. Those prohibited from being sold on the market as stipulated in Article 33 of the [Law of the People's Republic of China on the Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products] shall not be marketed.

　　Packaging and Labeling Regulations

　　(1) Grading: Purchasing, processing, and grading shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Commerce's ZBB31007-88 [Inspection Methods for Exported Fresh Apples]. After culling substandard fruits as required by foreign buyers, apples are placed in net bags, sorted by a fruit grading machine, and weighed. Each box contains 20 or 18 kg, with 175-163-150-138-125-113-100-88-80-72-64 apples per box.

　　(2) Packaging: For export packaging, use cartons with inspection numbers featuring a top and bottom flap. Seal the bottom and lid with tape, place an apple preservation bag and apple support tray inside, then arrange the net-bagged apples in five layers. After weighing, seal the box and stack it.

　　(3) Labeling: After processing for export or domestic sales, affix the Pollution-Free Agricultural Product label and the Geographical Indication of Agricultural Products of the People's Republic of China in the designated label area on the carton. Also, mark the agricultural product traceability code and product barcode. If customers have special requirements, affix the Pollution-Free Agricultural Product label, the Geographical Indication of Agricultural Products of the People's Republic of China, and the trademark on each apple, and maintain records of production, warehousing, outbound, and factory dispatch.

　　(4) Storage and Transportation: After processing for export or domestic sales, follow the regulations of GB/T8559 and ISO8682 for the cold storage of pollution-free apples. Export products shall be loaded into 40-foot refrigerated containers as required by customers and transported to Qingdao Huangdao for export. Domestic sales products shall be loaded and shipped to various parts of the country as per customer requirements.